Duke. Mended again: the matter; proceed. Isab. In brief, to set the needless process by,

How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'd me, and how I replied,

93

For this was of much length, the vile conclusion

96

I now begin with grief and shame to utter.
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible intemperate lust,
Release my brother; and, after much debate.
ment,

100

My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him. But the next morn
betimes,

His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

Duke.
This is most likely! 104
Isab. O, that it were as like as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond wretch! thou know'st
not what thou speak'st,

108

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour
In hateful practice. First, his integrity
Stands without blemish; next, it imports no

132

And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute! Let this friar be found.
Lució. But yesternight, my lord, she and
that friar,

I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.
F. Peter.

140

136 Bless'd be your royal Grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Your royal ear abus'd. First, hath this woman Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute, Who is as free from touch or soil with her, As she from one ungot. Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of?

F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and
holy;
144

Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler,
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your Grace. 148
Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it.
F. Peter. Well; he in time may come to clear
himself,

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request, 152
Being come to knowledge that there was com-
plaint

Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true and false; and what he with his oath 156
And all probation will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. First, for this

woman,

160

Let him be sent for.

244

Hath set the women on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go do it instantly. [Exit PROVOST. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for awhile will leave you;

250

But stir not you, till you have well determin'd Upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it throughly.— [Exit DUKE. Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? 256 Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke. 260 Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and enforce them against him. We shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. 264 Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again: I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.] Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

268

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, she'll be ashamed.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. 274 Lucio. That's the way: for women are light at midnight.

Re-enter Officers with ISABELLA.

Escal. [To ISAB.] Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Enter DUKE, disguised as a friar, and
PROVOST.

Lucio. Mum.

282

Escal. Come, sir. Did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did.

Duke. 'Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are? 288 Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil

speak.

Escal. The duke's in us, and we will hear you speak:

Look you speak justly.

292

Duke. Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls! Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress! Is the duke gone?

Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,

Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth
Which here you come to accuse.

297

300

Lucio. This is the rascal: this is he I spoke of.

Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!

Is 't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?

305

And then to glance from him to the duke himself,

To tax him with injustice? take him hence; 308 To the rack with him! We'll touse you joint by joint,

But we will know his purpose. What! ‘unjust’?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke
Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he
Dare rack his own: his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial. My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws for all faults, 317
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong
statutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.